“It seems you’ve found me.”
The smile he gave her was amused and polite and held the kind of goodwill that almost made Shea question her previous impression.
“I believe we got off on the wrong foot,” Gawain said, stepping closer. Wilhelm tensed at her back and even Trenton eyed him with a degree of suspicion usually reserved for Lowlanders. “I will admit I lost my head yesterday and said some regrettable things. We lost some good people. I’m afraid I let it get to me. I apologize for any words that may have offended.”
Pretty words, but Shea wasn’t sure how many of those were sincere. He seemed earnest, his expression open and containing a friendliness that had been lacking yesterday.
She just didn’t quite believe it. Something kept her from trusting him entirely.
She could see how the confusion and attack might have led him to being a tad more hostile than he would be normally. For that reason, she was inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt despite her reservations.
“I understand. Yesterday was a trying day for all involved.”
He held his hand out to her to clasp. “I hope we can put this behind us for Fallon’s sake, if nothing else. We were as close as brothers growing up. I would hate to have harsh feelings between myself and the woman he has chosen to have by his side.”
Shea stared at his hand, not liking how he was forcing her into accepting his apology but also not seeing a way to gracefully decline. She clasped his hand, grasping his forearm in much the same way Daere had clasped Holly’s. Her nod was grudging.
“I’m told you have much to share regarding the beasts and terrain we might encounter in the Highlands,” Gawain said stepping back. “My men and I would appreciate any guidance you might be able to give.”
Both Ember and Rain were accompanying Fallon into the Highlands? Shea would have thought he’d want some of the men who were familiar with the Lowlands. They at least had some idea of what to expect.
She eyed both sets of Trateri, wishing not for the first time that she had undertaken this journey alone. Keeping all of these people alive was going to take a miracle.
“Of course, I’d be happy to share what I know.” Shea looked down to where Mist was still burrowed into her. “Perhaps we can pick this up tomorrow. There are a few things that need my attention today.”
Gawain looked at the girl attached to Shea. “Hello, lalu. Could you spare your friend for a few hours today?”
Mist didn’t answer, though Shea could feel her body shaking.
“She must be shy,” Gawain said, aiming a smile at Shea as he stood.
“Something like that.”
“I’m afraid we’ll need your help today,” Gawain said. “As the Hawkvale intends to ride out tomorrow.”
What? Shea hadn’t heard that.
Gawain looked sympathetic to the surprise clearly written on her face. “You hadn’t heard? He made his decision this morning. Those with orders are preparing even as we speak.”
She’d seen Fallon at the midday meal. He could have told her then. Why hadn’t he? Was he afraid to trust her for fear of the information getting to the pathfinders? That couldn’t be it. He may have just been distracted. There could be a million reasons for why he hadn’t told her.
“I’m sorry if this is a surprise. I assumed you knew.” Gawain really did look apologetic.
Shea’s smile held a thread of tension. “I’m sure he just got caught up in preparations. Anyway, if that’s the case I will need to prepare as well. We have several weeks of travel before we reach the Highlands. I can start teaching Ember and Rain the basics on the trail.”
It’d give her more time and also real-world examples to draw from.
Gawain clasped his hands. “Perfect. We will find you then.” He turned to Zeph. “Is that an acceptable plan to you, Ember?”
Zeph eyed him with an odd expression on his face, one Shea couldn’t quite decipher. Holly, at his side, also looked displeased at Rain’s presence.
“That is an acceptable compromise for Ember,” Zeph said. “We will find you on the trail.”
Shea gave them all a look that said she looked forward to it. Or at least that was what she hoped it said. In reality, she was dreading the encounter already.
“It is good to see you again, my fierce one,” Gawain told Daere as she fell into step with Shea.
Daere was reserved as she gave Gawain a nod. “And you as well.”
“I had hoped to spend more time getting reacquainted with you,” he said to her back.
“There will be time for that later,” Daere said. Her smile was awkward. She clasped Shea’s elbow and steered her away from the group, reaching down with her other hand to tug on Mist’s arm.
“What was that about?” Shea asked.
“Nothing.”
Shea snorted. She wasn’t that dumb. “Nothing, my ass. Why did I sense a vague threat behind his words?”
“Because you did,” Daere said.
“Is he a danger to you?” Shea asked, her eyes locked on Daere’s face. If he was, Shea didn’t care who he was or how much Fallon needed him. She’d put a stop to him herself, even if she had to lead the man into a beast’s nest to do it.
“Not in the way you mean.” Daere didn’t look at Shea, her gaze turned forward.
“What do you mean?”
“Gawain is mostly harmless. He’s always been jealous of the attention Henry gives Fallon. It’s one of the reasons he broke off to form his own clan.”
Shea shot a look at Trenton and Wilhelm who kept pace with them. Their attention was directed to the area surrounding them, but Shea would have bet anything that they were listening to every word.
“And how is he not harmless?”
“He’s very good at manipulating people. His ambition has a way of blinding him to everything but what he needs to get what he wants. That ambition has hurt many people along the way.”
Shea took her words to mean that Daere was one of those who fell victim to Gawain’s ambitions.
“So, I shouldn’t trust him.”
Daere huffed out a laugh. “You shouldn’t trust anyone but Fallon and your guards. Haven’t you learned anything in the weeks with me?”
“I don’t remember that being one of the lessons.”
Daere gave Shea a sideways glance. “It was in the subtext.”
“Ah, well. There’s your problem. You’re relying on me to catch the subtext. I’m a straightforward kind of person.”
“I’m beginning to understand that.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
SHEA LOOKED up at the grey cliffs that towered over them, the Trateri warband Fallon had gathered stretched for half a mile behind her. It had taken two weeks to get to this point. Saying goodbye to Mist had been difficult. The little girl had seemed so alone and small when Shea had told her she would be staying behind with Daere. It was one of the few times Shea had regretted leaving.
Now, they stood at the base of Bearan’s Fault looking up at cliffs that would be impossible to climb unless they left the mounts behind. Even if they did, it would be a difficult and time-consuming journey since the cliffs towered over them by several hundred feet.